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Personalizations

Howdy,

How common is it for celebrities to personalize photos and such at signing events? I've been dealing with a seller on ebay who seems legit, and I've noticed that 90% of what he's selling is personalized to his name. This works for me since we have the same first name, and it seems to me that forgers probably would tend not to add a name like that, since it limits the customer base. Is this a common practice that celebrities use to limit resale of their signatures?

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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Collins on July 27, 2013 at 2:12am

Like anything else, it varies from celebrity to celebrity and situation to situation. When I met Adam West, Corey Feldman, and Ann Margaret at a sit down paid signing, it was no tickey no laundry! Had to be personalized. Those were the only three out of about 200 I met that enforced it. Kinda ticked me off, especially because I paid $75 for Ann (It was on a Tommy piece already signed by Daltrey, but still). On the street, most of the time they care less, however I know Christian Bale only personalizes typically. MOST of the A listers could care less what you plan to do with your scribble, to be quite honest. I find its the D-B celebrities that bust your back the most about it. I used to find it awkward at paid signings when they would ask me my name, and I would say no, just sign it. But then I remembered I'm paying them! And as one celeb told me, "The fan makes the plan." Personalized signatures shouldn't be bought at full price, however.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on July 28, 2013 at 8:48am

Nicholas, where did you meet Corey Feldman? I have a Goonies photo that I want him to sign.

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Permalink Reply by Mykaphobic on July 27, 2013 at 2:43am

A lot of through the mail autographs are inscribed also. So if the person you are buying off has a heap of different celebrities its a good bet that he just mails everyone.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on July 27, 2013 at 10:39am

Most conventions I've been to, the celebs generally seem fine with signing whatever you want - inscription or not. I personally don't recall coming across any who demanded that they personalize it to you. Some actually won't add personalizations or inscriptions at all - William Shatner and Patrick Stewart are two examples (Christopher Lloyd sometimes as well).

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Permalink Reply by Tyler Gray on September 7, 2013 at 8:12pm

That's not entirely true... I got Patrick Stewart to inscribe "Prof X" on an X-Men photo and "Capt Picard" on Star Trek

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Permalink Reply by Brian on July 28, 2013 at 5:36am

Slightly off topic, but I get annoyed at conventions when the celebrity writes the year next to their autograph. Seems like its usually musicians that do it. If you're paying them above market value for their autogragh in a convention setting, they really should do whatever the fans ask. In the time it takes for them to explain why they won't, they could've just signed it and moved on.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on July 28, 2013 at 8:52am

David Lee Roth loves to do this although he did not add the year when he signed a ticket stub for me before a concert since the date was already printed on it.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on July 28, 2013 at 8:45am

It depends on the celebrity. Some inscribe your name to prevent resale. I found this to be true of Adam West as Nicholas has already stated. I have also learned that they are much more willing to add an inscription if they are not busy and/or the line is not too long. I arrive early to a signing in order to achieve this but there are still some who will not inscribe anything even if you are first on line. I found this to be true of Christopher Lloyd as Rich has already stated.

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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Collins on September 7, 2013 at 9:19am

Sorry for late reply, Feldman used to do conventions back in the day, around 2008-2009 I picked him up on a Goonies photo. One convention sticked him out of his money and he has had a very bad taste in his mouth since. Of course, his side of the story is that he doesn't believe in conventions and charging fans what they do. When I met him, he was $10 each which was extremely rare as number 65th Jason victim was $25. Picked up 4 from his table.